Communication Theories
A communication theory that focuses on how we change our communication to match or not match the person/people we are interacting with.
What is Communication Adaptation Theory (CAT)?
What are cohesion and adaptability?
This type of secret is kept for a limited amount of time and is typically associated with something fun or happy.
What is "sweet"?
When information moves within a family without regard to status or power (parents and children working together) it is said to move in this direction.
What is horizontal? (pg. 157)
*A vertical network involves a hierarchy.
The story that a family shares, that all family members know, and that serves to define what it means to be a member of their family. Often linked to larger-than-life events, great risks, resilience, or achievement.
What is a master narrative? pg 163
The only communication theory that directly addresses conflict in family relationships.
What is Relational Dialectics Theory?
These are the four levels of cohesion that family members experience with each other.
What are Disengaged, Connected, Cohesive, or Emeshed (Chpt. 2 pg. 52)?
This type of secret poisons family relationships and usually includes significant family issues or stories that have been left unaddressed. Maintaining this type of secret can have long-term effects on family relationships, problem-solving, and emotional well-being.
What is a "toxic" secret?
Face-to-face interactions use these types of networks to share information.
What are chain, Y, Inverted Y, wheel, and all-channel?
*With technology, we see changes in how information spreads - i.e., group chats
Every Sunday, I meet up with my close friends for brunch. It is very important to us. We share stories about our bloodline or nuclear families, make plans for the future, share concerns, and ask for advice. If someone misses Sunday brunch, they are missed.
What is a ritual?
Family Systems Theory is a "meta theory" (broad - overarching theory) which addresses....
What is the interdependent relationships within the family?
The amount of adaptability and change in a family's roles, relationships, and rules.
What is Adaptability or Flexibility (pg. 53)
Bonding, evaluation, maintenance, privacy, defense, and lack of communication are collectively known as the ....
What is the "function of secrets"? (pg. 155)
Name an advantage and a disadvantage of the all-channel network.
What is the ability to notify many members quickly and through multiple ways (phone, in person, social media, messages) and sometimes chaotic and no central figure or leader in the conversation? (pg. 159-161)
Name the functions of stories.
What are remembering, creating belonging and identity, teaching expected behavior and values, development of family culture, connection between generations, management of stress, and entertainment? pg. 164
A theory that is focused on the content of stories, who tells them, and why they are told.
What is Narrative Theory?
The highest level of flexibility within family functioning which can be both useful and challenging.
What is "Chaotic"?
*An extremely high level of flexibility - high levels of change in their roles, no leadership, confusion, and inconsistent rules.
When someone shares a whole family secret outside the family, we would say that they have ....
What is boundary violation?
The advantage of this network is that it distributes and delegates family members to share information, thus relieving the initial reporter of the responsibility to notify all family members.
What is an inverted Y network?
Name a few questions that stories answer for family members.
What are: (pg. 166-167)
Are parents really human?
How did this family come to be? Origin story.
How does a child become an adult within the family?
Will the family stand behind its members?
How does the family handle adversity?
What does it mean to be a member? Collective identity.
The application of Communication Privacy Management Theory is used when studying these concepts ....
What are the formation of privacy rules, the development and practice of boundary management, and how families choose to implement rules around privacy?
Term used to describe some degree of flexibility, family members experience moderate levels of change, and limited decision-making power. They have stable rules and roles.
What is "Structured"? (Pg. 53)
A secret that discloses fears or insecurities. Where sharing of the secret with another enhances closeness and intimacy.
What is an "essential" secret?
Name a way that communication networks might change based on the information being shared or the developmental stages of the family members.
What is ......
The theory that examines storytelling behaviors (how it is told) but not necessarily the contents of the story itself.
What is narrative performance theory?